McEvoy set to change the script for Albrecht

By
Chris Roots

March 1, 2013, 3 a.m.

Kerrin McEvoy is hoping to have Golden Rose runner-up Albrecht a lot closer as he attempts to unseat hot favourite All Too Hard in the Australian Guineas at Flemington on Saturday. Darley's Redoute's Choice colt has got a long way out of his ground in each of his unplaced runs this campaign in Melbourne and has been favourite both times. "There doesn't look to be a lot of speed in the race and I would like to use the barrier [of five] and have him a bit closer," McEvoy said. "He has been working very well at home and he has a good sprint but needs to be closer to use it to full effect. All Too Hard is obviously the class runner and will be hard to beat."

Kerrin McEvoy is hoping to have Golden Rose runner-up Albrecht a lot closer as he attempts to unseat hot favourite All Too Hard in the Australian Guineas at Flemington on Saturday. Darley's Redoute's Choice colt has got a long way out of his ground in each of his unplaced runs this campaign in Melbourne and has been favourite both times. "There doesn't look to be a lot of speed in the race and I would like to use the barrier [of five] and have him a bit closer," McEvoy said. "He has been working very well at home and he has a good sprint but needs to be closer to use it to full effect. All Too Hard is obviously the class runner and will be hard to beat."

Schofield eyes cup

Glyn Schofield can't wait to link with South Australian stayer Pelicano in Saturday's Parramatta Cup. The Tony McEvoy-trained four-year-old has won his past two and Schofield will hoping for the same result as he got on Le Roi in the Summer Cup at his only other ride for the stable. "I was due to ride him in the Mornington Cup but he didn't go there and instead went and won a listed race in Adelaide," Schofield said. "He obviously has ability and stays. He will have no problem with the trip and as we have seen, Tony only brings them here when they are in good form."

Change of fate?

John O'Shea wants Knight Exemplar to drop the most unwanted tag in racing - the best maiden in training - but stablemate Charge Account could have a say in that in the Fireball Quality at Rosehill. "Ideally you never want to have the best maiden tag," O'Shea said. "He has run into some fair handy ones so far in his career. I have two horses with great credentials for this race and they will both run well."

Kiwi fillies fancied

The fillies dominate the top of betting for the New Zealand Derby. Donna and Dean Logan-trained Habibi, which met with defeat for the first time in six starts when third in Valbuena's Avondale Guineas a fortnight ago, is a firm favourite after coming up with the rails alley. "The way she found the line showed that she will have no trouble getting the 2400m of the Derby,'' Donna Logan told New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing. ''It was also her first race in seven weeks, so she has taken a ton of improvement out of the race. ''It would have been nice to draw barrier four or five, but barrier one is a hell of a lot better than barrier 18.'' Second elect is another filly, Fix, which got the outside gate, 18, while best of boys is Waikato Guineas winner Castlzeberg, which OTI Racing took a controlling interest in this week.

Still an Admirer

Grahame Begg says Secret Admirer is well in the Millie Fox Stakes despite carrying topweight of 59.5 kilograms as a group 1 winner. "She'll have to be on top of her game with 59.5kg but in saying that there's only a 4.5kg spread in the weights, so she's not badly treated," Begg said. "She trialled really well two weeks ago but she will certainly improve on whatever she does this Saturday. However, she does perform well early in her preparations." Secret Admirer has never won resuming but has placed in each of her four first-up efforts. She has been competitive in the top grade for the past couple of years but hasn't won since the 2011 Epsom.

InterDom good to go

Injury concerns for Lincoln Royal and Chariot King leading into Sunday's InterDominion final were put to rest by Harness Racing NSW vets who gave the field for $750,000 final the all-clear on Thursday.